Fact Sheet
Road Rage
Are You Susceptible To Road Rage?
Could you be contributing to the problem without even
knowing it?
Take this simple road rage test and find out how you do?
Which of the following best describes you? Please be as accurate as possible.
The Passing Lane
A. I don’t pay any special attention to
people following me when I drive
in the passing lane.
B. I’m aware of who is following me
when in the passing lane.
C. I only use the passing lane to pass
other people.
Cell Phones
A. I chat on the phone when
driving.
B. I get annoyed by people who talk
on the cell phone and don’t pay
attention to their driving.
C. I do not talk on the phone when
driving.
Tailgating
A. I get tailgated from time to time.
B. I will tailgate someone who is
travelling too slow.
C. I try not to tailgate people.
Staring
A. I’ve seen people stare at me while
they’re passing.
B. I’ve been known to stare at people
who annoy me.
PRP 52
Revised – February 2009
C. I avoid staring at other drivers.
Muttering
A. I mutter when I encounter a hyper
driver.
B. I mutter when I encounter a slow
or “stupid” driver.
C. I seldom mutter about another
person’s driving.
The Horn
A. I will honk at people who honk at
me first.
B. I’ve been known to “lean” on my
horn to express anger.
Obscene Gestures
A. I will only make an obscene
gesture to someone if someone
gestures obscenely first.
B. I’ve been known to make an
obscene gesture at other drivers.
C. I never make an obscene gesture
at another driver.
If you answered A to the majority
of the questions, chances are you’re
contributing to the problem whether
you realize it or not. If you answered
B to the majority of the questions, you
are exhibiting aggressive behaviour. If
you answered C to the majority of the
questions, your road rage risk is low.
C. I only use my horn to catch other
people’s attention.
Headlights
A. Sometimes I notice people flashing
their headlights or high beams
behind me while I’m driving in
the passing lane.
For more information on
this subject, please contact:
C. The only time I use my headlights
is to help me see when driving.
Tel. 905-453-2121 ext. 4021
Fax 905-456-6106
B. I’ve been known to flash my
headlights at slower moving
traffic or use my high beams to
get them to move out of the way.
Peel Regional Police
Crime Prevention Services
7750 Hurontario Street
Brampton, Ontario
L6V 3W6
You may also want to examine our
Internet site at:
www.peelpolice.ca
Road Rage
Fact Sheet
The realities of road rage
According to a Leger Marketing poll, one in five Canadians has been the victim of road rage
and one in three has witnessed a road rage incident. Incidents of road rage are becoming more
prevalent as the pace of our society gets faster and faster and the amount of traffic increases.
Road rage has a tendency to get out of hand and can result in fights, damage to vehicles, the use
of weapons, criminal charges, injury and even death. You can reduce your chances of becoming
involved in a road rage incident by following these simple tips.
Preventing Road Rage
Most of us tend to over estimate
our driving abilities yet are critical
when it comes to judging others.
Road rage generally results when a
driver’s expectations about how much
time is needed to travel somewhere
is upset by the driving of another
person. Road rage can be triggered
by poor, inattentive and/or inefficient
driving, the latter of which is virtually
impossible to prevent as it is based on
the other driver’s often unreasonable
expectation of how traffic should
move. Frequent road rage triggers that
are preventable include:
• driving slower than trailing traffic
in the passing lane (even if you’re
driving at a speed in excess of the
limit),
• making sudden lane changes and
cutting people off,
• failure to use your signals,
• driving on the shoulder,
• butting into line or parking spaces,
and
• driving inattentively including
talking on the cell phone.
signs of road rage
Typical signs of road rage include:
• swearing/gestures, staring, tailgating
and/or flashing your headlights or
highbeams,
• using your horn excessively, and
• deliberately cutting across another
vehicle’s path or blocking someone
else’s progress.
You will reduce your chances of
becoming involved in a road rage
incident by following these do’s and
don’ts:
Mental Outlook
Do
• Make yourself comfortable in your
vehicle.
• Be courteous.
• Realize that the rest of the world
does not drive according to your
expectations.
DoN’T
• Drive when tired.
• Feel territorial about the road.
Driving Tips
Do
• Plan routes well allowing enough
time to arrive at your destination.
• Pay attention to your driving.
• Keep to the right when driving at
the speed limit or being overtaken
by other vehicles.
• Keep the appropriate distance from
other vehicles.
• Use your mirrors, signals, and check
your “blind” spot.
• Never cut other drivers off.
DoN’T
• Talk on the cell phone while
driving.
• Overuse the horn, headlights or
highbeams.
• Butt into line or drive on the shoulder
of the road.
• Tailgate.
Controlling Road Rage
In the event that something makes
you angry:
• Be forgiving and assume that the
other driver’s mistakes are not
personal.
• Avoid driving in the spirit of
retaliation or competing with other
drivers. Do not accelerate, brake,
swerve suddenly or follow the other
driver.
• Try to relax, stay calm and be
patient.
• Take a deep breath and move out of
the way.
Remember: It is not your responsibility to teach other drivers a lesson
and you may be in the wrong.
Road Rage Tips
• If you are still angry or someone is
acting aggressively towards you:
Avoid eye contact, exchanging
words, making obscene gestures or
expressing anger in any way.
• If you are the victim of road rage:
Never lead a road rage aggressor
to your place of residence. Drive
to the closest police station or to a
busy area to seek assistance. Use
your horn if necessary.
• If someone approaches your vehicle
acting aggressively:
- Drive away if you can do so
safely.
- Close and lock your windows.
- Do not exit your vehicle for any
reason.
- Do not issue or respond to verbal
taunts.
- Get a description of the vehicle
and occupant(s) including licence
plate.
Reporting Driving
Complaints
If you observe someone driving
dangerously, call Police right away.
If you have a driving complaint fill
out a Road Watch form. Road Watch
forms are available at all Regional
and Provincial police facilities in the
Region of Peel. Road Watch forms
are also available over the internet at
www.roadwatch.ca. Better yet, carry
one in your car.